Hockey Dogs sweep Dinos

Head to Canada West Finals
Mar 03

Spurred on by the Hustling Huskie on the front of their jersies, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies were just that, hustling on Saturday night. After taking a 1-0 series lead in the Canada West Semi-Finals, the Huskies had but one thing on their minds Saturday night at Rutherford Rink in Saskatoon; put the Dinos away before they get any life. Last weekend, the Dinos found themselves in the same position, down 1-0 to the Regina Cougars, but found a way back in the series and eventually won. With the Dogs knowing that Calgary would not back down, they played one of their more technically sound games of the year. In his last game perhaps ever at Rutherford Rink, the Huskies 5th year forward Keegan McAvoy made the difference on this night, scoring the only two goals of the game and securing a berth in the Canada West Final against either UBC or Alberta next weekend. It took solid goaltending by the Huskies Jeff Harvey, and crucial penalty killing by the special teams to get the win, but as the final buzzer sounded, the Dogs were on the winning end of a 2-0 score.

After the game a reflective Huskies alternate captain Keegan McAvoy offered these words.

"I was just asking for the clock to run a little faster in the third period because in my last game at Rutherford I wanted to make sure we got the win. The boys were all pulling for me tonight and I was able to respond; they battled with me all 60 minutes tonight."

Early on in the game the Dinos definitely came out with a spark they hadn't found until Friday night's third period, forcing the Huskies goalie Harvey to make two key saves just 1:35 seconds into the game. That would be the story for most of the night as Harvey shut down the Dinos time and time again. After both teams traded chances throughout the first period, the Dogs would finally open up the scoring as Keegan McAvoy collected a Curtis Austring bid and deposited the puck past a diving Calgary goalie Scott Talbot. Picking up the assists on the goal were Curtis Austring and Trent Adamus. With 2:45 left in the first the Dogs almost scored again, but Talbot was there to make a big save, keeping his team in the game as the first period ended.

In the second period both teams tried to establish some sort of momentum, but really neither could as the play remained in the neutral zone for much of the second frame. With 14:25 left in the period the Huskies would get a scoring chance thanks in part to a couple of bruising hits, but once again Talbot was there to shut the door. Again though, McAvoy for the Huskies gave his team an added boost as on the power-play again he cashed in a top corner drive that put the Dogs up 2-0. The assist on the goal went to Curtis Austring. With the Huskies in complete control, they would look to blow open the game when Mason Wallin nailed the post with just 49 seconds left in the second. After 40 minutes of regulation the Huskies were in the driver's seat, much like they were Friday night.

The Huskies hadn't forgotten what had happened just a night earlier when they had they same 2-0 lead, only to have Calgary come charging back to force overtime. Saturday night the Dogs just didn't give Calgary anything in the way of quality chances however, and when they did, Harvey once again shut the door. The Dinos last gasp came late in the game as they went on a extended 5-3 power-play, but their shots were either blocked by desperately diving Huskies, or a solid goalie in Harvey. As the final seconds ticked down the 547 Huskies spectators made some noise for their hometown Dogs as they won 2-0.

After the game Dave Adolph, Huskies head coach, was pretty thrilled with his team's second performance of the weekend.

"You know we're capable of playing very good hockey; as I told you last week I was a little worried about how three weeks of no hockey was going to affect us. I think that you saw some of that fatigue last night but there was no lack of effort tonight," says Adolph. "The leaders came through tonight; Brent Twordik played the penalty kill to perfection and how about Keegan McAvoy, he just gets the job done."

Racking up 34 saves in the shut-out was the Huskies Jeff Harvey, who, in last year's Canada West Semi-Final was pulled, and hadn't forgotten about it.

"A lot of people won't remember but last year I got pulled in the first game of the Canada West Semi-Final, so for myself it was huge to get in here and get two playoff wins under my belt. I think in the year's past I made a point of trying of out-do the goalie on the other end, this year I've just focused on what I'm doing and that's all I can control from here on out."

With the win the Huskies are now moving on to the Canada West Finals where they will like meet the Alberta Golden Bears with a trip to Nationals on the line. The loss ends the Dinos season as they now prepare for next year. Game one of the Canada West Final will be next Friday either in Alberta, or at Saskatchewan with a UBC win over Alberta.

Game Story by: Devin Heroux - Sports Information Student Assistant